Shelf lighting mounting system

ABSTRACT

A shelf lighting system ( 60 ) is disclosed which includes a single upright rail ( 61 ). The upright rail includes an electrically conductive first member ( 62 ) and second member ( 63 ) which are electrically insulated from each other. The system also includes an electrically conductive shelf brackets ( 85 ) having a tongue ( 86 ) and a U-shaped mounting portion ( 87 ) configured to be mounted to the second member. The system also includes multiple corner shelves ( 91 ) having a mounting slot configured to receive the bracket tongue, a first contact ( 93 ) positioned to be in electrical contact with the tongue, and a second contact ( 94 ) positioned to be in electrical contact with the upright first member. The shelf also includes a light sources ( 95 ) having a pair of electrical conductors ( 96 ) which extend through holes passing through the shelf to the light source(s). The electrical conductors terminate with contacts ( 93, 94 ) which contact the members ( 62, 63 ).

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/564,015 filed Apr. 21, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to lighting systems, and specifically to lighting systems that are associated with shelving.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shelving is often highlighted with accent lights to illuminate or highlight items placed on the shelving. Such accent lights are readily available on today's china cabinets, bookcases, hutches, and the like which include a downwardly projecting light mounted to the top of the cabinet. A problem with such lighting is that fact that the light can only illuminate one level of shelving if the shelving is made of an opaque substance such as wood. Thus, items displayed on shelves below the illuminated shelf are not illuminated. Alternatively, a shelf may be made of a transparent material such as glass. Here however, each shelf below the light source receives less and less light due to the light being reflected and refracted by each glass shelf. Furthermore, items placed upon the shelf may cast shadows upon underlying shelves. As with the opaque shelves, the light associated with glass shelves is fixed in height and therefore cannot be adjusted in height relative to the underlying shelving.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a lighting system that can be adapted to illuminate multiple shelves and which may be adjusted in height. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred form of the invention a shelf lighting system adapted to be mounted to a support wall comprises a first electrically conductive member coupleable to an electric power source, a second electrically conductive member coupleable to an electric power source, a fastener coupling the first member to the second member, the fastener including an electrically insulative portion preventing electrical contact between the first member and the second member, at least one electrically conductive mounting bracket having an elongated portion and a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the second member, and at least one shelf having a slot therein configured to receive the mounting bracket elongated portion, the shelf also having a first electrical contact positioned to electrically contact the first member and a second electric contact positioned to electrically contact the second member, the shelf also having an electric light source having one electrical conductor coupled to the first electrical contact and a second electrical conductor coupled to the second electrical contact. With this construction, the bracket is coupled to the mounting member, and electricity is passed through the light source by passing it through the members and through the electrical conductors in electrical contact with the members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf lighting mounting system in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shelf lighting mounting system of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the system in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of a shelf lighting mounting system in another preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the shelf lighting mounting system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view, shown in partial cross-section, of the rail and fastener of the system of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown in a shelf lighting mounting system 10 embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form. The system 10 includes a pair of vertical electrically conductive mounting rails 11 and a plurality of removable horizontal shelves 12 coupled to the mounting rails 11 through electrically conductive mounting brackets 13. The vertical mounting rails 11 may be mounted directly upon a building's wall or may be mounted upon the front surface of the back wall of a cabinet or the like in order to produce an article of furniture having shelving, such as a bookcase, china cabinet, hutch or the like. As used herein, the wall to which the mounting rails are mounted will be referred to as the support wall regardless of whether this wall is incorporated into furniture or not.

Each vertical mounting rail 11 has a generally hollow L-shaped configuration defined by an outwardly facing side wall 16, a front wall 17, and inwardly facing side step wall 18, a rear step wall 19, and an inwardly facing side bracket wall 20. As such, the inwardly facing side bracket wall 20 is recessed behind the front wall 17 so that it is hidden from view. The front wall 17 has a series of mounting holes 23 through which mounting screws 24 may pass and be threaded into the support wall to secure the position of the vertical rails 11. It should be understood that the pair of vertical mounting rails 11 are preferably mirror images of each other so that the side bracket walls 20 of each face each other when affixed to the support wall.

Each horizontal shelf 12 has a top surface 27, a bottom surface 28, a front surface 29 and a rear surface 30. The shelf 12 also has a pair of grooves or slots 32 extending into the shelf from the rear surface 30. Each slot 32 has an elongated portion 33 and a notched or cutout portion 34 extending to the elongated portion 33. The shelf 12 also includes one or more light sources 36, preferably 12 volt d.c. light(s), positioned within the shelf to provide light. The light source(s) 36 has a pair of electrical conductors 37 which extend through holes 38 passing through the shelf 12 to the light source(s) 36. Each electrical conductor 37 terminates with an annular contact 39.

Each metal mounting bracket 13 has an elongated horizontal tongue 41 which extends to a mounting portion 42. The tongue 41 is sized and shaped to be received within the slot 32 of the shelf. The tongue 41 also includes a metallic insert slide 43 having a horizontal lip 44 that is configured to be received within the notched portion 34 to provide an electrical contact surface with the tongue 41, and a vertical wall 45 with a screw mounting hole 46 therein. A metal mounting screw 48 passes through and in electrical contact with each conductor contact 39 and is threaded into the shelf 12 so as to sandwich the contact 39 between the head of the screw 48 and the insert slide vertical wall 45. Obviously, one contact 39 is coupled to one bracket while the other contact is coupled to the other bracket. The bracket mounting portion 42 has a pair of L-shaped hooks or catches 51 which extend generally normal to the tongue 41 which are configured to be passed into the mounting slots 22 of the vertical mounting rails 11 and be moved downwardly so as to lock the bracket 13 onto the vertical mounting rail 11. As shown in the drawings, once the mounting bracket 13 is coupled to the vertical mounting rail a portion of the mounting bracket abuts the rear step wall 19 of the mounting rails.

The use of a 12 volt d.c. light source requires the use of a transformer 52 that converts 110 volt ac household current to 12 volt d.c. current. The transformer 52 is coupled to the vertical mounting rails 11 so that the d.c. current is passed to the vertical mounting rails. This d.c. current passes through the vertical mounting rails, through the mounting brackets 13 in electrical contact with the vertical mounting rails 11, through the conductors 37 in electrical contact with the mounting brackets and through the light source(s) 36. Thus, the light sources 36 are energized with electricity passing through these components which permit a complete electrical circuit. The shelves 13 may be moved to any position along the vertical mounting rails and maintained in electrical contact therebetween.

It should be understood that the present mounting rails 11 and mounting brackets 13 provide distinct benefits over those of the prior art. Here, the mounting slots 22 are positioned upon the inwardly facing side bracket wall to obstruct them from view, as these slots are aesthetically unpleasing. Furthermore, the front wall 17, inwardly facing side step wall 18 and rear step wall 19 form a step which further obstruct the view of the mounting slots 22.

It should also be understood that by having the mounting portion 42 of the mounting brackets mounted in this manner the weight of the shelf and anything thereon is not directed solely on the metal wall having the mounting slots, a problem long associated with the prior art wherein the catches may pull through or deform the wall defining the slots should the shelf become overloaded with weight. Here, the force of the weight causes the bracket to push against or abut the rear step wall 19 of the rails, thereby placing a portion of the force upon the rear wall and limiting the force extending through the catches upon the inwardly facing side bracket wall. It should be understood that the front wall 17 and rear wall 19 may be manufactured as one single, unitary wall rather than two separate walls as shown in the drawings, i.e., one wall with a front surface and a rear surface.

It should also be understood that the bracket of the present invention is obstructed from view, another problem associated with brackets of the prior art. Here, the top of the mounting portion 42 is obstructed by the shelf while the lower port of the mounting portion 42 is obstructed by the step of the vertical mounting rails. This configuration of the bracket provides an aesthetic advantage over brackets of the prior art.

It should be understood that all surfaces of the vertical mounting rails 11, except for the inwardly facing side bracket wall 20, may be painted to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The inwardly facing side bracket wall 20 is left unpainted to provide a good electrical contact surface with the mounting bracket 13.

Lastly, it should be understood that as an alternative to the mounting screws 24 shown in the preferred embodiment, the mounting rails may be mounted to the support wall through other commonly used devices, such as bolts, nails, adhesives, mounting brackets, or other ancillary structure such as the top or bottom walls of the cabinet.

With reference next to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a shelf lighting mounting system 60 in another preferred form of the invention. Here, the system 60 works essentially the same as the first embodiment except that the system includes a single upright rail 61 rather than the two separate rails shown in the previous embodiment.

The upright rail 61 includes an L-shaped, electrically conductive first member 62 and a channeled, electrically conductive second member 63. The second member 63 is coupled to the first member 62 through multiple key-holed fasteners 64. Each key-holed fastener 64 includes a stud 65, an electrically insulated grommet or spacer 66 mounted about the stud 65, and a nut 67 which fixes the position of the stud 65 upon the first member 61. The fastener 64 also includes a key-hole slot 68 extending through a plate 69 mounted to the backside of the second member 62. The key-hole slot 68 is sized and shaped to be removably coupled to the stud 65, as conventionally known with key-hole shaped fasteners, while the spacer 66 electrically insulates the first member 61 from the second member 62.

The first member 62 has a back plate 71 and a front plate 72 which in combination form the L-shaped configuration of the first member, thereby making it specifically adapted to be mounted within the corner formed by two adjoining support walls SW. The back plate 71 includes a series of mounting holes 73 therethrough through which mounting screws 74 are passed and fastened into a support wall. The front plate 72 has an access hole 75 configured to allow the mounting screw 74 to be passed completely therethrough so that it may be inserted into mounting hole 73 and to allow the passage of a screwdriver to drive the mounting screw 74 into the adjoining support wall. The second member 63 has a front wall 79, a left side wall 81, and a right side wall 82. The left side wall 81 has a series of mounting slots 83 therethrough.

The system 60 also includes an electrically conductive shelf brackets 85 having a tongue 86 and a U-shaped mounting portion 87. The mounting portion 87 has a vertical wall 88 and two catches 89 configured to be receivable within the slots 83 of the first member side wall 81.

Lastly, the system 60 includes multiple corner shelves, although the figures show only one shelf 91 and one bracket 85 for clarity purposes. The corner shelves 91 are V-shaped, which the bight somewhat truncated, so that they may fit within the corner of a structure. Each corner shelf 91 includes a mounting slot configured to receive the bracket tongue 86, a first contact 93 positioned to be in electrical contact with the tongue, and a second contact 94 positioned to be in electrical contact with the upright first member 62. The shelf 91 also includes one or more light sources 95, preferably 12 volt d.c. light(s), positioned within the shelf to provide light. The light source(s) 95 has a pair of electrical conductors 96 which extend through holes passing through the shelf to the light source(s). One conductor 96 terminates with the first contact 93 while the other conductor 96 terminates with the second contact 94.

In use, similarly to that previously described, a transformer provides a d.c. current to the first and second members 62 and 63. The current energizes the light source(s) 95 as it passes through the first member 62 to the shelf second contact 94, through the conductors 96 and light source 95 to the first contact 93, through the bracket 85, and through the second member 63, thereby completing a circuit. Again, the brackets 85 may be moved anywhere along the rail and still maintain a complete electrical circuit.

Also, as the catches 89 extend generally normal to the orientation of the tongue 86 a portion of the force is directed onto the upright rail 61. Here, the downward force upon the tongue is transferred from the mounting portion vertical wall 88 onto the rail front wall 79, rather than being placed solely upon the small span of metal between two adjacent slots 83 in the side wall 81. The transference of the force onto the front wall 79 of the second member greatly increases the integrity of the system, as previously described in reference to the previous embodiment wherein the force was directed onto the rear wall.

Alternatively, the second contact 98, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4, may be mounted to the shelf in a position to directly contact the second member, as oppose to the current passing through the bracket prior to reaching the second member.

It should be understood that with both embodiments shown in the drawings the rails, and/or bracket may be made partially electrically conductive, such as a conductive strip extending along a portion of the rail and/or bracket. As such, the term electrically conductive is not intended to mean that the entire structure is electrically conductive. The second embodiment may also utilize the configuration of the slot and slide referenced in the first embodiment.

It thus is seen that a shelf lighting system is provided which enables multiple shelves to be illuminated and be removed or relocated efficiently. Furthermore, the components of these shelves are strong and aesthetically unobtrusive. Although it has been shown and described in its preferred form, it should be understood that other modifications, additions or deletions may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A shelf lighting system adapted to be mounted to a support wall and coupled to an electric power source, the system comprising: a first electrically conductive member coupleable to an electric power source; a second electrically conductive member coupleable to an electric power source; a fastener coupling said first member to said second member, said fastener including an electrically insulative portion preventing electrical contact between said first member and said second member; at least one electrically conductive mounting bracket having an elongated portion and a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to said second member, and at least one shelf having a slot therein configured to receive said mounting bracket elongated portion, said shelf also having a first electrical contact positioned to electrically contact said first member and a second electric contact positioned to electrically contact said second member, said shelf also having an electric light source having one electrical conductor coupled to said first electrical contact and a second electrical conductor coupled to said second electrical contact, whereby the bracket is coupled to the mounting member, and whereby electricity is passed through the light source by passing it through the members and through the electrical conductors in electrical contact with the members.
 2. The shelf lighting system of claim 1 wherein said second member includes a front wall and at least one side wall, said side wall having a plurality of holes therethrough, and wherein said mounting bracket mounting portion includes at least one catch adapted to be received within a said side wall hole.
 3. The shelf lighting system of claim 1 wherein said mounting bracket mounting portion is configured to abut said second member front wall.
 4. The shelf lighting system of claim 1 wherein said second electrical contact is positioned to electrically contact said second member through said electrically conductive mounting bracket.
 5. The shelf lighting system of claim 1 wherein said second electrical contact is position to contact directly said second member.
 6. A shelf lighting system adapted to be mounted to a support wall comprising: an electrically conductive rail having a first member and a second member coupled to said first member; an electrical insulator electrically insulting said first member from said second member; mounting means for mounting said rail to the support wall; at least one electrically conductive shelf mounting brackets adapted to be mounted to said second member; and at least one shelf having a first electrical contact positioned to electrically contact said first member and a second electric contact positioned to electrically contact said second member, said shelf also having an electric light source having one electrical conductor coupled to said first electrical contact and a second electrical conductor coupled to said second electrical contact, whereby the brackets are coupled to the mounting rail, and whereby electricity is passed through the light source by passing it through the members and through the electrical conductors in electrical contact with the members.
 7. The shelf lighting system of claim 6 wherein said second member includes a front wall and at least one side wall, said side wall having a plurality of holes therethrough, and wherein said mounting bracket mounting portion includes at least one catch adapted to be received within a said side wall hole.
 8. The shelf lighting system of claim 6 wherein said mounting bracket mounting portion is configured to abut said second member front wall.
 9. The shelf lighting system of claim 6 wherein said second electrical contact is positioned to electrically contact said second member through said electrically conductive mounting bracket.
 10. The shelf lighting system of claim 6 wherein said second electrical contact is position to contact directly said second member.
 11. A shelf system adapted to be mounted to a support wall comprising: a rail having a first member and a second member, said second member having a front wall, a rear wall, and at least one side wall extending between said front wall and said rear wall; mounting means for mounting said rail to the support wall; a shelf mounting bracket adapted to be mounted to said side wall of one said rail, said mounting brackets being configured to abut said front wall; and at least one shelf adapted to be coupled to said mounting bracket, whereby the bracket is coupled to the second member.
 12. The shelf system of claim 11 wherein each said mounting bracket has two catches.
 13. The shelf system of claim 11 wherein said rail members and said mounting brackets are electrically conductive, and wherein said shelf also having a first electrical contact positioned to electrically contact said first member and a second electric contact positioned to electrically contact said second member, said shelf also having an electric light source having one electrical conductor coupled to said first electrical contact and a second electrical conductor coupled to said second electrical contact, whereby electricity is passed through the light source by passing it through the members and through the electrical conductors. 